2003 camry heater core leaked

[phoenixln]

I have a 2003 Camry XLE 4cly, my first Camry that I purchased used at 46k miles certified and I really like it but the heater core just leaked and coolant is all over the driver’s carpet all the way to the back floor. Car now has 62k miles but two months ago at 60k miles I took it to a non-Toyota local shop to get the coolant flushed. I didn’t put two and two together at the time but after that service I noticed a ‘running water’ sound under the driver’s side dash after starting. It would eventually go away. I now know from other posts and forums that the noise was probably air in the heater core. I’m not sure it caused the leak or if it was the green antifreeze they used instead of Toyota red, but when I called for estimates, two local Toyota dealers said that it was very unusual for a Camry with just 62k miles to have this problem. The non-Toyota shop I eventually had the car towed to, which is different then the one who did the flush service, said they had not seen it at that low of mileage either. So the question is did the shop that did the flush cause the problem by leaving air in the lines or by using green antifreeze? This is going to set me back $1,000 and if that’s not bad enough, I’m hoping the carpet can be cleaned enough to not smell antifreeze.

[TRD VVTi]

It is VERY unusual for it to be leaking. I can't really see how that shop caused the leak, but it's so uncommon that I suspect that they somehow did. After all, they weren't even smart enough to install the right coolant or bleed the system properly.

Maybe the over pressurized the system while leaking checking it and fatigued the heater core.

It's really hard to say for sure.

Ask for the old part back and inspect it to find the cause of the leak.

[phoenixln]

I can’t say what procedure or chemicals were used to flush the system, but given the low mileage and the fact that Camry’s are arguably one of the more reliable cars on the road, I’m leaning towards shop error. Of course, I could be the unlucky one who got the Friday afternoon version of the heater core installed but given the dealer’s response I don’t think it happens very often.

The flush shop also didn’t give me an option with the green antifreeze. Not that two months and 2k miles using green instead of red would make a difference, but they basically precluded me from making a goodwill appeal to Toyota to possibly go halfers on the cost since we currently own three Toyotas. Once I told the dealer it was green, he said too bad. I’ve also asked the current shop that’s doing the work to save the core so I can inspect it, but my thinking is that I still can’t prove it was shop error. Looks like I’ll have to eat this one.

[CharmCityES]

yeah youre gonna have to eat this one

words of advice: always stay oem....use ONLY red toyota long life coolant....
your car is made to run on it and dont go otherwise...and for major services go to a trusted mechanic or toyota dealer...sounds like this shop you use does shoddy work....youre also NOT supposed to drain and fill coolant on a gen 5....you HAVE to flush the system
i work at a toyota dealer and i have NEVER seen this happen.

[marc780]

Green coolant isnt what caused the leak. It is either a connection to the heater core or the previous owner never changed the coolant and it rusted inside.
The heater core has to be changed out unless you or the shop yank it out and find its just at the connections.
I have a 1988 nissan pickup with almost 300k and have used nothing but green coolant its whole life. Heater core and radiator are original.

[phoenixln]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

The shop where I took it is neither a dealer nor the place that did the original flush. It just so happens that I had a trusted local mechanic for several years but his business moved and I didn’t find him until this came up when I was explaining my dilemma to a friend who uses him (go figure). I would have pursued the dealer path but once they asked what color the antifreeze was and I said green, they put up a wall. So, before having it towed I got four estimates, two from Toyota dealers, based on the worse case scenario that it needed the heater core replaced. I decided to go with my former trusted mechanic since I trust him and he was several hundred dollars cheaper than the dealers. Once the car made it there he confirmed it was a leaking heater core. He suggested going with OEM heater core and replacing with Toyota red coolant. This moved the repair cost up but I agreed because I want to get it back to normal. I’ve asked him to save the old core for inspection when I pick it up.

The other estimate was from the shop that did the flush. I explained what happened but didn’t try to assume they were the cause since I’m not really sure yet. Their estimate was about the same as my trusted mechanic. I inquired why they used green instead of red and they had a reasonable explanation saying that if I needed to top off on the road green was easier to get. Once I have a chance to inspect the core, if it looks like the seams are separated, I might be led to believe they over pressurized the system.

Still, the best I think I can do is write a letter to them explaining what happened. If I try in person they might get defensive and not hear me. If they were the cause, I’m sure they didn’t do it on purpose. I also don’t expect they will compensate me; it would be great though if they did. I wasn’t expecting to put out a grand, especially right after Christmas, but it might help them in preventing it in the future and alert others to the possible problems. Even good mechanics can make mistakes. Life happens. I also don’t think I have a chance with Toyota helping me given the path I took.

As for the carpet pad, the shop has a detailer they are using to clean it up. I’ll just have to wait to see how it comes out, but if they don’t dry the under-padding, I’m sure the smell will remain.

[TRD VVTi]

I agree that you should use a OEM heater core and coolant.

At least you understand why Toyota won't offer you assistance. You can't blame them either.

As far as finding green coolant if you need to top off somewhere...that's what water is for.

No, green coolant probably didn't hurt anything.

No, you don't HAVE TO flush the cooling system. A drain and fill works just fine, but it takes some effort to properly bleed the system afterwards.

Good luck. I hope that this situation somehow works out for you.

[phoenixln]

I just picked it up and it appears one of the two aluminum lines that are permanently attached to the heater core body was weakened at the joint. The mechanic suggested it might have been done if the rubber hoses attached at the firewall were removed with too much force during the flush. He commented again that he has not seen this at such low mileage.

His detailer was not available but he got a lot of the green coolant off the carpet with a wet/dry vac and said it has a rubberized backing and not an under pad like a home carpet. I just made an appointment elsewhere to have it detailed and shampooed.

To wrap this up, I think it will be difficult to say for sure if the shop that did the flush was the cause. I still plan to write a letter and bring it to their attention. I’ll also let them know it cost $960 for a new core installation and $90 for detailing. I plan to comment about installing green instead of Toyota red antifreeze without giving me an option, which made it difficult to ask Toyota for help in the case that it was genuinely a part failure.

Thanks again to everyone for your replies. Maybe my experience might help someone in the future.

[TRD VVTi]

I'm guessing that the shop that did the flush weakened it.

At least you got it fixed.